Minister for Agriculture Martin Heydon has announced the reopening of the Early-Stage Support for Producer Organisations (ESSPO) Scheme for another round of applications from groups seeking to be recognised by the Department.

The scheme was first launched last April as part of the the multi-annual CAP strategic plan and is designed to support the formation and establishment of producer organisations in seven sectors: beef, sheep, milk, potato, tillage, plant amenity, fruit and vegetables.

Producer organisations are officially recognised entities set up by primary producers to increase the collective bargaining power of their members and ultimately improve the position of farmers in the value chains for which they provide raw materials, according to the Department.

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The scheme aims to support producer organisations in their first three years following recognition. Grant funding can be sought to help with eligible administrative costs, including hiring personnel and acquiring relevant technology, with grants of up to €10,000 per annum available.

Advantages

For legal and business advice obtained in relation to producer organisation formation and application submission, a separate grant of up to €3,000 is available.

Following the announcement, Minister Heydon spoke about the advantages of farmer collaboration through producer organisations, stating: “Recognised producer organisations provide opportunities for groups of farmers to come together to co-ordinate activities and improve supply chain management with potential buyers.

“They facilitate farmer collaboration, knowledge exchange and undertake joint activities, such as bulk purchasing of inputs and machinery, and labour sharing.

"I am particularly heartened by the interest shown to date by the sheep sector and would like to encourage applications from primary producers in other sectors as well.

“Producer organisations are common in many EU member states and I think that there is scope for more to gain formal recognition here also.

"My ambition is to increase both participation and the overall number of organisations in Ireland, so that farmers can capitalise on their collective bargaining power to improve the efficiency of their holdings. Ongoing support is needed in the early years and this scheme provides funding to give the necessary impetus at the outset,” the Minister said.

The application window is open from Tuesday 7 April for a six-week period, until 19 May 2026.

Anyone interested in the scheme is advised to examine the terms and conditions on the Department’s website, seek appropriate advice and submit applications before the deadline.

Scheme terms and conditions, approved facilitator lists and application forms are available here.

Applications and queries on the scheme should be directed to the dedicated email address PO@agriculture.gov.ie.